Loading
Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
How much should a Police Officer expect to earn? If you're going by the national average of $79,846, you're missing the plot. The real answer depends on where you work, how long you've been at it, and what the local market can bear. Across 288 tracked cities, we found a $55,892 range from entry to senior-level pay — and a geographic spread that's equally dramatic.
Positioned in Protective Services within the broader Public Safety industry, Police Officers typically hold High school or associate's. The employment landscape is shaped by steady, and the day-to-day is patrol/shift-based. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$86,670 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Police Officer in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $148,621 — $86,670 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($61,951). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Police Officers average $57,489, the median sits at $79,846, and senior earners pull in $113,381. That $55,892 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $521 below the national median household income of $80,367 — which tells you location and cost of living are critical factors in making this salary work.
The city-level data complicates the national narrative. The top 3 paying cities (Santa Clara, Irvine, San Francisco) average $140,681 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Jackson, Macon) average $63,474. That $77,207 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
A Police Officer in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $148,621 — $86,670 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($61,951). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Police Officer is $57,489, while senior-level (P90) earners average $113,381. That $55,892 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Hawaii pays the highest average median salary for Police Officers at $101,428 across 1 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Hampshire at $83,300) is $18,128.
Even at the 10th percentile, Police Officers average $57,489 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $57,489 | $79,846 | $113,381 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £29,939 | £41,582 | £59,047 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$44,827 | CA$62,260 | CA$88,409 |
| Australia | 13 | A$53,340 | A$74,083 | A$105,198 |
| Sweden | 24 | 324,066 kr | 450,091 kr | 639,129 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 1 | $73,028 | $101,428 | $144,028 |
| California | 61 | $65,613 | $91,130 | $129,404 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $63,253 | $87,851 | $124,748 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $61,594 | $85,547 | $121,477 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $59,976 | $83,300 | $118,286 |
| Washington | 8 | $58,776 | $81,633 | $115,919 |
| Oregon | 5 | $58,121 | $80,723 | $114,627 |
| Colorado | 11 | $57,814 | $80,297 | $114,021 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $57,782 | $80,253 | $113,960 |
| New York | 5 | $57,506 | $79,869 | $113,414 |
| Illinois | 5 | $57,376 | $79,689 | $113,158 |
| Nevada | 5 | $56,718 | $78,775 | $111,861 |
| Virginia | 7 | $56,686 | $78,730 | $111,797 |
| Idaho | 3 | $56,686 | $78,730 | $111,797 |
| Utah | 4 | $56,214 | $78,075 | $110,866 |
| Florida | 22 | $56,161 | $78,002 | $110,762 |
| Arizona | 12 | $56,106 | $77,925 | $110,654 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $56,039 | $77,832 | $110,521 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $55,392 | $76,933 | $109,244 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $55,014 | $76,408 | $108,500 |
| Michigan | 6 | $54,951 | $76,321 | $108,376 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $54,924 | $76,283 | $108,322 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $54,809 | $76,124 | $108,095 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $53,935 | $74,910 | $106,372 |
| Alaska | 1 | $53,935 | $74,910 | $106,372 |
| Iowa | 2 | $53,935 | $74,910 | $106,372 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $53,935 | $74,910 | $106,372 |
| Montana | 1 | $53,935 | $74,910 | $106,372 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $53,198 | $73,886 | $104,918 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $53,126 | $73,787 | $104,777 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $53,120 | $73,778 | $104,765 |
| Texas | 40 | $53,048 | $73,678 | $104,622 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $52,870 | $73,431 | $104,271 |
| Georgia | 6 | $52,722 | $73,225 | $103,979 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $52,654 | $73,131 | $103,846 |
| Indiana | 3 | $52,515 | $72,937 | $103,571 |
| Alabama | 5 | $51,929 | $72,123 | $102,415 |
| Ohio | 6 | $51,814 | $71,964 | $102,188 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $51,778 | $71,914 | $102,117 |
| Maryland | 1 | $51,724 | $71,839 | $102,011 |
| Missouri | 4 | $51,683 | $71,783 | $101,931 |
| Kansas | 4 | $51,562 | $71,614 | $101,692 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $51,346 | $71,314 | $101,266 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $51,077 | $70,940 | $100,735 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $47,786 | $66,370 | $94,245 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $45,575 | $63,299 | $89,885 |
Geography shapes Police Officer pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. Hawaii tops the state leaderboard at $101,428 median, with 1 cities providing data. California and Massachusetts follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Arkansas anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Santa Clara ($148,621 nominal, 198 cost index) delivers $75,061 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oceanside California | $109,743 | 146 | $75,166 | $67,371 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $148,621 | 198 | $75,061 | $88,773 |
| 3 | Boston Massachusetts | $113,339 | 151 | $75,059 | $74,224 |
| 4 | Huntington Beach California | $126,823 | 169 | $75,043 | $76,774 |
| 5 | Fremont California | $132,815 | 177 | $75,037 | $80,072 |
| 6 | Irvine California | $138,059 | 184 | $75,032 | $82,959 |
| 7 | Bellevue Washington | $126,748 | 169 | $74,999 | $93,590 |
| 8 | Thousand Oaks California | $120,530 | 161 | $74,863 | $73,309 |
| 9 | Los Angeles California | $110,043 | 147 | $74,859 | $67,536 |
| 10 | Anaheim California | $109,294 | 146 | $74,859 | $67,124 |
From a career planning perspective, Police Officer offers a $55,892 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires High school or associate's. Day-to-day, expect patrol/shift-based work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Police Officers is $79,846 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $57,489, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $113,381.
The highest-paying city for Police Officers is Santa Clara, California with a median salary of $148,621. The top 3 cities are Santa Clara ($148,621), Irvine ($138,059), San Francisco ($135,362). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Police Officer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $61,951. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Police Officers (10th percentile) average $57,489 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $107,007. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Police Officers average $113,381 nationally — $55,892 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Police Officers can earn up to $211,042.
The top-paying states for Police Officers are Hawaii ($101,428 median), California ($91,130 median), Massachusetts ($87,851 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Police Officer involves High school or associate's. The field is in the Public Safety sector (Protective Services), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically patrol/shift-based.
With a national median of $79,846 and representation across 288 metro areas, Police Officer offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $55,892 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.